Queen Elizabeth's 4 Children Stand Solemn Vigil at Their Mother's Coffin in Historic Moment

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Elizabeth’s four children are standing a symbolic watch.

On Friday evening,King Charles III,Princess Anne,Prince AndrewandPrince Edwardcame together at their mother’s coffin for an emotionalVigil of the Princesat Westminster Hall. Just after 7:30 p.m. local time, the siblings joined the King’s Body Guards to ceremoniously protect the Queen’s coffin as it laid in state, draped in the Royal Standard and topped with theImperial Crown.

After taking their positions — King Charles at one end, Prince Andrew on the other with Princess Anne and Prince Edward on either side — they bowed their heads.

Mourners who stood in line for hours to see the Queen’s coffin continued to file past during the vigil.

After about 15 minutes, the siblings somberly stepped away.

King Charles.YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty

Several of their family members viewed the vigil. Princess Anne’s daughter Zara came with her husband, Mike, and their daughters Mia and Lena, while Anne’s son Peter brought along his two daughters, Savannah and Isla.

Royal family members gather for a vigil at Queen Elizabeth’s coffin in Westminster Hall.Dominic Lipinski/AP/Shutterstock

Prince Andrew’s daughters,Princess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie, were also there with their husbands.

Queen Camilla also viewed the emotional vigil, along with Prince Edward’s wife Sophie and their two children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn.

DANIEL LEAL/POOL/AFP via Getty

Although it was announced earlier this week that only working members of the royal family would wear military uniforms for the Queen’s funerary events, aspecial exceptionwas made for Prince Andrew to wear his military uniform for Friday’s vigil. The Duke of York was allowed to don regalia for the final vigil as a sign of respect for the late monarch, who “peacefully” died at age 96 on September 8.

While Charles, Anne, Edward, and other working members of the royal family who hold military rank (likePrince William) have worn uniforms for this week’s events, Andrew has worn a dark suit as he is no longer a senior working royal.

Prince Andrew.Hannah McKay/AP/Shutterstock

Andrew spent 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands War in 1982.

King Charles.HANNAH MCKAY/POOL/AFP via Getty

The rite marked thesecond timethey performed the Vigil of the Princes at the Queen’s coffin, having first carried out the tradition Monday evening at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.

There, Princess Anne, 72,made historyas the first female royal to participate in the rare ritual, standing with her three brothers for the solemn guard.

King Charles.JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP/Getty

The Vigil of the Princes had only been hosted twice before in family history. It was first recorded during the funerary processions for the Queen’s grandfather, King George V, in 1936, and again performed when the Queen Mother died in 2002, according toThe Independent.

There, Charles, 73, Andrew, 62 and Edward, 58, briefly guarded their grandmother’s coffin the day before her funeral.

Vigil for The Queen Mother in 2002.Pool Photo/Getty Images

Like Andrew,Prince Harryhas worn a suit for the Queen’s funerary events. The Duke of Sussex, 38, served in the British Army for a decade, and lost his three honorary military titles (Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command) after he and wifeMeghan Marklestepped back from their senior royal roles in March 2020.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed to PEOPLE earlier this week that he “will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother.”

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry on Sept. 14.Kate Green/Getty

However, it was revealed Friday thatPrince Harrywill wear his military uniformfor a similar vigil on Saturday with all eight ofQueen Elizabeth’s grandchildren.

The update comes “at the King’s request,” according to a palace source, and the decision was made withoutPrince Harryrequesting a change, PEOPLE has learned. The Duke of Sussex was prepared to wear whatever was asked, PEOPLE understands, and his focus is on honoring his grandmother.

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Chris Jackson/Getty

The Queen’s coffin will continue to lie in state at Westminster Hall through the weekend, where thousands have visited to pay their respects.

source: people.com